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– Tom Baron, co-author, Northeast Wisconsin Global Trade Strategy also showed the opportunities that may be available to groups of related industries that may regard each other as competitors domestically, but could access international markets by working together, says Connie Loden, executive director of the Manitowoc County Economic Development Corp. For example, Loden says companies involved in metal stamping or plastic fabricating might find commonalities that they could exploit. By combining their skills, they could provide a more cost-effective product to an international buyer sourcing a component using both. Such a strategy could open up opportunities for both companies. "One of the things about these clusters is that they often have complementary skills," Loden says. "They can start to make some new connections and understand the breadth of their combined capabilities." EXPORTING RESOURCES Learn more about the resources available to assist companies with international exports by visiting the Global New North at www.thenewnorth.com/global. Find the New North Global Strategy Report at www. eastcentralrpc.org/planning/economic WI EXPORT FACTS: W isconsin exported an estimated $23 billion in goods in 2012, according to the latest information compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce. A lmost 20 percent of all manufacturing workers in Wisconsin depend on exports for their jobs. A bout 30 percent of non-exporters say they would export if they had information on how to get started, such as best markets, potential buyers and export procedures. A total of 8,605 companies exported from Wisconsin locations in 2011. Of those, 7,550 (87.7 percent) were small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. Source: www.trade.com O F CRAF 33 - 2013 T YEARS ANSHI P GENERAT I NS 19 O SM 1933 2013 OF CRAF 33 - 2013 T GENERAT I NS 19 O S "There is tremendous potential for exports from New North companies. But to take advantage, we need to grow the awareness there are resources to help." BUILDING ON PRINCIPLE Culture | People | Process m i d -y e a r r e p o r t 2 013 11